Comments on: O’Leary on Lynn and Todd

By: the red baron

the red baron — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 06:40:32 +0000

I don’t really see Lynn as being much like Mortensen at all. Mortensen was a late bloomer; a pitcher who was just beginning to grow into his body and develop the repertoire that we now see. He was seen as an overdraft because he wasn’t projected to go any higher than about the third round. The Cards believed someone else was about to pop him, and they couldn’t afford to wait on a guy they thought had some serious helium.

Lynn is an extremely mature pitcher physically. What you see from him now is essentially what you’re going to get. The reason this pick is being panned is because there were still lots of other picks on the board who project to be much better down the road. Lynn is a very safe pick, as he’s nearly a finished product, and just isn’t the sort of player you worry about flaming out.

Lynn does have an excellent delivery. I expect that, between his size and mechanics, he’ll be extremely durable in his career, as long as he can keep his weight under control. Personally, I still don’t think his ceiling is much beyond a #4 starter, maybe a 3, but a mid rotation guy that stays healthy is plenty valuable; just look at Suppan and his ilk.

I’m still in the camp that would have preferred the Cards swing for the fences a bit more, especially seeing the excellent depth they’ve managed to cultivate. Still, Lynn should be a very valuable pitcher while he’s cost controlled. I don’t necessarily think he’ll be good enough to maintain that value as his cost increases, but those first five years or so he should be a rock in the rotation, putting up solid, if unspectacular, numbers for a fraction of what a comparable free agent pitcher would cost. Again, it isn’t the way I would have gone, but it’s still a great way to use a draft pick, at least in theory.

By: sportsman

sportsman — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 03:35:00 +0000

kind of related question: why are there so many rounds of the draft? no organization can absorb 50 new players every year or adequately evaluate the 1000+ player pool they must draft from. considering this and the overall inefficiency of the process (e.g., pujhols in the 13th, ak in the first, all those who never made it to the bigs, etc.), why drag this thing out to so many rounds.

By: GForce9

GForce9 — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:20:07 +0000

Probably not the place for this, but there was a story about Springfield’s all-star squad

http://www.springfieldcardinals.com/news/?id=11330

Also, anybody going to the game on Sunday. I am going to try since Clement will be starting for the SCards.

By: GForce9

GForce9 — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:18:17 +0000

Parisi is back to Memphis, and I still haven’t heard who is going to join the SCards. Any ideas?

By: Hugo

Hugo — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:34:14 +0000

Lynn reminds me ALOT of Mortenson in how the pick was received “oh what a poor pick, yada yada” and it was the same round (1st round supp) even. If we get another Morty is that so bad?

Also, does Jimenez being out mean that Parisi is going to the Pen or is there room in Memphis for him too?

By: Grant

Grant — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:01:15 +0000

That report made me feel a little better about the Lance Lynn pick. I’m still not real excited about it though.

By: Red Blazer

Red Blazer — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:37:54 +0000

As long as they keep promoting talented prospects to replace the ones they send to S.t. Lou I don’t see a problem.

I’m sure Memphis fans can’t wait to get a look at Jess Todd.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:24:55 +0000

Note too that Kelvin Jimenez’s option to Memphis has been rescinded and he’s been put on the 15-day DL. Presumably that makes room for Mortenson.

I’m not opposed to this move-the-prospects approach by any means, but I do wonder how it’s going to be received in Memphis. The natives had been getting restless over the perception that the Redbirds were being used as an AAAA dumping ground the last few years, with a lousy team the result. This year the team has been quite successful, and one would hope that the locals are happy to see some of “their” guys making it to the Show. However, the consequence may be that the Redbirds themselves are weakened again. Any rumblings of discontent being observed?

By: Red Blazer

Red Blazer — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:19:30 +0000

I like the way they are pushing the prospects up.

It’s sink or swim, fly or die…

By: picklefork

picklefork — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:10:22 +0000

Hope that means Furnish up to AA